APPOINTMENTS OLLSCÉALA A A AL AL É É C C
Here comes LLS Summer… LLS As the campus begins to quieten down for the summer, we take stock of some of the University’s achievements over the past three months. O O Inside this Issue: Page 4 Hardiman Building launch Page 5 New projects to EXPLORE … and more! Go Green! To receive this magazine electronically, email your Staff ID to [email protected]
Nuachtlitir Foirne | Staff Newsletter | Samhradh 2014 1 OLLSCÉALA Focal ón Uachtarán
are wonderful additions to the campus and The Hardiman Research Building also features a I’m delighted to see them completed. With a dedicated exhibition area which is set to become combined investment of €23 million, they offer a major campus attraction. To mark the launch world-class teaching, learning and research of the Hardiman Research Building, a major facilities for staff, students and the public. exhibition of the digital Abbey Theatre Archive has been mounted. ThePerforming Ireland The new home for theSchool of Psychology Exhibition features a taste of the more than one brings students and staff under one roof for the million items that comprise the Abbey Theatre first time in the School’s 40-year history. During Archive, dating from 1894. It will run until the the Minister’s visit he met with staff from the Autumn and I’d encourage all staff to visit this School’s two thematic research areas: Health & engaging and attractive exhibition. Wellbeing and Brain & Behavior, visiting the new electro-physiological laboratory as well as meeting Other public events which drew considerable children involved with the School through the attention included an Interview withIrish University’s Youth Academy. Rugby Coach, Joe Schmidt on 6 May which A Chairde, attracted over 200 guests. At this event, held in Recently named the 2014 Irish Building & association with Snap Galway, Joe Schmidt spoke The last semester has been a positive and eventful Design Architectural Project of the Year, the about Ireland’s recent Six Nations success and the one, with many openings and events taking place Hardiman Research Building is home to almost challenge for leaders in maintaining improvements on our campus. 200 researchers from the Moore and Whitaker made both on and off the pitch. He praised Institutes. It also houses NUI Galway’s unique the opportunity afforded to professional rugby On May 1 we welcomed Minister for Education, collection of more than 350 literary, theatrical, players and other elite athletes by NUI Galway’s Ruairí Quinn to campus to officially open two political and historical archives, as well as the structured educational scholarships to allow them major new buildings – the Hardiman Research digitised Abbey Theatre Archive, the world’s to continue to both compete and study at the Building for research in the humanities and social largest digital theatre archive, in development highest level. sciences, and a new home for the University’s since 2012. School of Psychology. These two new buildings
Familiar Faces
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1. Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, pictured here with members of Monivea Active Age, at the 3 launch of the Galway Age Friendly Strategy, which sets out a plan to make Galway a great place to grow up and grow old. While here, Mícheál launched the Reel Lives Film Festival, organised by Alison Herbert (Irish Centre for Social Gerontology).
2. Irish Rugby Head Coach Joe Schmidt (pictured centre, holding the Six Nations Trophy) is joined by NUI Galway students and rugby players Eoin Griffin, Robbie Henshaw and Kieran Marmion, and Connacht Head Coach Pat Lam (pictured here demonstrating his ball-handling skills).
3. Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD, presented a ‘Student of the Year’ award to Masters of Applied Science student Kelley Rickard at a special ceremony in Dublin organised by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Ireland. Kelley won the award and €500 cash prize for her paper outlining ‘The Ultimate Traffic Management System’. They are joined by Mary Dempsey (Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering).
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On 24 May, President Michael D. Higgins and between industry and the University will form was awarded for our MSc in Marketing Practice Mrs Sabina Higgins were guests of honour at a part of the strategic planning currently underway programme. Congratulations to all the team public lecture to mark the 150th anniversary of by both Enterprise Ireland and NUI Galway. involved, led by Programme Director, Ann Walsh. the naming of Neanderthal man by William King, Professor of Geology at the then Queen’s College The summer is set to continue to attract many Finally, well done to the NUI Galway Singers who Galway. He remains the first scientist ever to name visitors to campus for conferences, events and hit the high note recently - winning the top prize a new species of human. The lecture by Professor exhibitionsTÁ AN T-ÁBHAR with SEO more AR FÁIL than TRÍ GHAEILGE 90 events / set to attract in the 2014 Galway Choir Factor Competition Svante Pääbo, of the Max Planck Institute in overTHIS 10,000SUBJECT visitors IS AVAILABLE – international THROUGH IRISH and domestic on 12th April! Directed by Peter Mannion and Leipzig, was attended by a capacity audience of – to our campus. made up of staff and students, the choir saw off 300. Before presenting the William King Medal to stiff competition from a range of local choral Professor Pääbo, President Higgins had a chance Other snippets of good news from around the groups to claim the Choir Factor trophy. to meet some of the descendants of William King campus include the recent announcement that OR NU OR F 2 TO I G F 2 0 E A 0 W L W 1 U W 1 Q E 4 I E 4 and see extracts from the University archives Professor Daniel Carey hasA been admitted as a new I thank colleagues for your continuing efforts and N N Y N
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U UNIQUE NEW Y NEW relating to his research in the late 19th century. memberN of the RoyalN Irish AcademyN (RIA) - one hard work and I wish you all an enjoyable summer. A I 4 Q 4 E W E 1 U L 1 W 0 E A W 0 2 T G 2 of only 15FO academicsR toO N receiveUI Ireland’sFO R highest Later in the month Enterprise Ireland hosted academic distinction. Beir bua agus beannacht, NU NU OR TO I G TO I G F 2 E A E A 0 L L W U W U W 1 Q Q I I E 4 the Inaugural West Region SME Leaders A A N N Y Y N
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U UNIQUE U UNIQUE Y Y NEW Innovation Forum to look at how higher For theN second yearN running NUIN Galway was James J. Browne PhD, DSc, MRIA, C.Eng A A I I Q Q 4 W W E U L U L 1 E A E A W 0 T G T G 2 education can support innovation in SMEs. awarded theO NUI ‘Best BusinessO NUI PostgraduateFO R Course Uachtarán – President Over 70 participants from industry, agencies and of the Year Award’ at the national gradireland higher education institutions gathered to discuss GraduateTÁ AN T-ÁBHAR Recruitment SEO AR FÁIL TRÍ Awards GHAEILGE 2014 / which Meitheamh 2014 how indigenous enterprises can benefit from the tookTHIS place SUBJECT in ISDublin AVAILABLE recently. THROUGH This IRISH year the prize human capital and research expertise available in universities and IoTs. Following this Forum over 30 company representatives visited a range of NUI Galway research facilities. This engagement Tá Focal ón Uachtarán le fáil ar líne agus go dátheangach: nuigalway.ie/president/reports.html
Appointments | Ceapacháin New Dean Ar Son na Teanga The College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Tháinig an Coimisinéir Nua Teanga, agus iar- Sciences is delighted to announce the recent mhac léinn de chuid na hOllscoile, Rónán Ó appointment of Professor Timothy O’Brien as Domhnaill, ar cuairt chugainn i mí an Mhárta chun Dean. Professor O’Brien will also continue in his agallamh a dhéanamh le mic léinn Cumarsáide role as Director of REMEDI in the University. an Acadaimh. Ceapadh an Coimisinéir nua i mí Feabhra i ndiaidh do Sheán Ó Cuirreáin éirí as an bpost. Chuir an tUasal Ó Domhnaill síos ar na dúshláin a bhaineann lena ról nua le linn a agallaimh Professorship 20 nóiméad ar an gclár An Ghaeltacht Bheo, a chraolaítear gach seachtain ó stiúideo Flirt FM ar A Professorship was recently granted to: an bpríomhchampas. Is iad na mic léinn atá ag plé Professor Stewart Walsh leis an gcraoltóireacht raidió i mbliain a ceathair a Professor of Vascular Surgery/ chuireann an clár i láthair. Consultant General Surgeon
External Appointments Professor Daniel Carey (English and the Moore Institute) was admitted as a Member of the Royal Irish Academy in May in recognition of his academic achievement. He is pictured here (front right) with other recent appointees.
Dr Gerard Flaherty (Medicine) has received an Adjunct Professorship from the International Medical University in Kuala Lumpur, a university with which NUI Galway enjoys a long history of partnership.
Dr Fabio Quondamatteo (Anatomy) was recently elected as a Fellow of the Anatomical Society, and has been chosen as the Representative of the Anatomical Society at the European Federation of Experimental Morphologists.
3 OLLSCÉALA University News University News
Students admire costumes from the Abbey Theatre archive, put on display outside the new Hardiman Building to mark the launch of the ‘Performing Ireland’ exhibition. Abbey Theatre Exhibit marks Building Launches For the next five months, the foyer of the new Hardiman Building is home to a unique exhibition from the Abbey Theatre Digital Archive. The ‘Performing Ireland’ exhibition celebrates 110 years of history in the theatre, and its opening coincided with the official launch of the Hardiman Research Building by Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD.
Hardiman Research Building The Hardiman Research Building is home to NUI Galway’s unique collection of over 350 literary, theatrical, political and historical archives. It brings together the Moore Institute for Research in the Humanities and Social Studies and the Whitaker Institute for Innovation and Societal Change, and its location adjacent to the James Hardiman Library ensures that it is always buzzing with research activity. The building was recently named the 2014 Building and Design Architectural Project of the Year.
New Psychology Building The new Psychology Building is adjacent to the Arts Millennium Building, at the heart of the campus. It brings students and staff under one roof for the first time in the School of Psychology’s 40 year history. Built at a cost of €8m, the building contains state-of-the-art research facilities, including a new electro- Librarian John Cox shows Minister Ruairí Quinn some photographs of 19th century physiological laboratory that will further enhance the School’s standing as a Connemara from the Arthur J. Balfour Album, a volume in the James Hardiman Library’s special collections, housed in the new Hardiman Research Building. centre of excellence for Health Psychology. What’s in a name? New University Ranking System The James Hardiman Library and the Hardiman Research Building are located adjacent to each other at the heart of the campus. Both buildings share one main entrance, and when referred to collectively they are called the Hardiman NUI Galway has been given the highest ranking in a number of areas in U-Multirank, a new EU Building. Is iad na hainmneacha Gaeilge ar na initiative to measure excellence in higher education. The University scored top marks for Arts graduate foirgnimh seo ná: Leabharlann Shéamais Uí employment and internships, while our focus on internationalisation was rewarded with a high score for Argadáin, Áras Taighde Uí Argadáin, agus Áras student mobility. Our continued success in technology transfer scored top marks for innovation, bringing Uí Argadáin faoi seach. new products to market, patents awarded and patents filed. The University’s track record in creating a sustainable funding base for research and development was also commended with a top ranking for sourcing external research income and income from private sources. President Browne welcomed the University’s high scores, saying: “I’m particularly pleased to note the strong performance in securing regional employment for our humanities graduates and internships for current students, confirming our role as a vital economic driver of employment, learning and research.”
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Perfectly Balanced: This shot of the Quadrangle in the evening sunlight by student Feidhlim Lally-Croke won the overall first prize in the EXPLORE-funded Capture Your Campus photo competition in April. The competition attracted over 170 entries from staff, students and alumni. See more of the photos at: www.nuigalway.ie/captureyourcampus 28 New Partnerships to EXPLORE May saw the official launch of this year’s EXPLORE projects – 28 staff-student partnerships funded and supported through a unique collaboration between the University’s Bright Ideas initiative and the Students’ Union. Over 180 staff and students got involved, with each partnership given €1,000 to turn their innovative ideas into reality. Here we take a look at the different projects, and what they achieved. Apps and other LGBT issues through a student-led See elsewhere in this magazine for the following Phone-based projects were particularly popular interactive campaign; while members of the Uni- EXPLORE projects: Galway Neuroscience this year. TheSTART project created tools to help food group are developing a food sustainability Centre Workshops on page 7; Undergraduate students teach University staff how to make apps. assessment tool for campus-based restaurants. Science Fair on page 9; Accounting Nuggets TheMyCollegeCal team are developing an app on page 11; and Disability Awareness Week that will list all the various events on campus, as Workshops and Awareness on page 14. well as student-focused offers and promotions Tá grúpa múinteoirí faoi oiliúint ón Dioplóma from Galway businesses. Meanwhile, staff and Gairmiúil san Oideachas ag spreagadh Daltaí le students from the Zoology and Marine Biology Cumais Eisceachtúla trí shraith ceardlanna a Museum created QR codes to help guide visitors chur ar fáil dóibh. Medical students are organising around their collection. a series of Undergraduate Surgical Training Workshops for their fellow students; and in the Publications School of Law, staff and students arePreparing Students Fionn Delahunty and Darren Kelly invited Students in the School of Medicine have Law Students for Professional Exams. The guests to try out their new App for NUI Galway published the first issue of theJournal of Medical RISE group are building a public awareness Students, which will be launched in September. Students Galway, a peer-reviewed journal aimed campaign to help people avoid pressure ulcers; at encouraging undergraduate students to publish while GEL, the NUI Galway English Lab, has their research. TheScary Noisy Things team created a website to help first year English students published an illustrated book to help parents with their academic writing. develop their toddlers’ emotional vocabulary. Arts and Culture Social and Environmental CÓR is a collaboration between the staff and Drama students from the Shakespeare Workshops TheI Like Beaches group of Geography staff and student choirs to upload arrangements and project demonstrate some of their innovative ways of students are creating tools to help educate people recordings of traditional Irish songs for choirs helping students get to grips with the Bard. about the importance of our coast and beaches; online. The Big Yellow Thing, led by student while students of the Swimming, Water Polo and Michelle Campion, has created designs for Lifesaving Club are giving lessons through their NUI Galway merchandising. Staff and students Learn to Swim programme. TheStaff-Student of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge and the Exercise Initiative is encouraging campus users Huston School of Film and Digital Media are to become more active by creating walking and producing short videos showing NUI Galway cycling routes around the University. TheCome Behind the Scenes; while the NUI Galway Abroad group are creating a web community for Animates History group is creating animated The Promoting Pollinators group is raising awareness international students studying here and Galway videos telling key events in Irish history in fun ways. of the vital role bees play in our ecosystem. students studying abroad to exchange advice and information. ShoutOut Galway is educating secondary school students about homophobia For more information on EXPLORE, as well as details and contacts for each project, visit: www.su.nuigalway.ie/explore
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Research in action From the ocean floor to the edges of our galaxy, NUI Galway researchers interrogate the world around us so that we might better understand it. Here’s a taste of some of that research over the past three months.
Scientists in the Plant and AgriBiosciences A new study led by Professor Gary Another €6 million partnership led by REMEDI Research Centre (PABC) have been developing Donohoe (Psychology) shows that risks for and Orbsen Therapeutics is developing new new higher-yielding varieties of an oilseed schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders tests and cell therapies for the prevention of crop called Camelina, for Irish growing could be identified through tell-tale signs complications in people receiving corneal conditions and new markets. The research team, in IQ, memory or social intelligence tests. transplants. The VISICORT project aims to led by Professor Charles Spillane, has been Schizophrenia or bipolar disorder affects improve the success of corneal transplantation, collaborating with scientists in Agriculture about one in 50 Irish adults. According to the most common transplant carried out and Agri-Food Canada to sequence the crop’s Professor Donohoe, recognising how genetic worldwide with over 100,000 procedures each genome. Camelina sativa (pictured above) was variants contribute to these conditions is an year. According to Minister of State for Training cultivated in Europe for many centuries before important step towards understanding the and Skills, Ciarán Cannon TD, “This is an being displaced by higher-yielding crops such underlying biology and developing better and excellent win for Galway and for Ireland and it as oilseed rape. However, its low environmental more personalised treatments. The study’s underlines the benefits of combining university footprint is driving a resurgence of interest in the findings were recently published in the leading research excellence with commercialisation crop as a source of sustainable protein and oils international peer-reviewed journal expertise in a single site.” for both nutritional and industrial applications. JAMA Psychiatry. Researchers at the Network of Excellence for Researchers in REMEDI are part of an exciting A cell therapy from campus-based company Functional Biomaterials (NFB) have made EU-funded project looking at how stem cells Orbsen Therapeutics will be tested as a a major breakthrough in the treatment of from adult fat tissue could be used to activate treatment for diabetic ulcers as part of ongoing damaged spinal discs, the main cause of the regeneration of cartilage. If successful, research at REMEDI. The therapy, which is severe back pain. The DISC REGENERATION their work could lead to effective new treatments called Cyndacel-M™, will be tested as part of project has developed two injectable gels for millions of sufferers of osteoarthritis. REMEDI’s €6 million REDDSTAR project, and that help spinal cells to repair and regenerate According to Professor Frank Barry, Scientific could lead to life-changing improvements for themselves. According to NFB Director, Director of REMEDI, “The results so far are the 50 million European citizens who suffer with Professor Abhay Pandit, “What is novel about extremely positive such that the use of stem diabetes. CEO of Orbsen Therapeutics, Brian our research is that it is the biomaterials we are cell therapy for osteoarthritis could become a Molloy, hopes that the research partnership using together with the stem cells that allow reality for patients within the next five years.” forged with the University “can position Ireland them to act in a particular way to regenerate The ADIPOA project is a partnership between and NUI Galway in particular as a European hub specific damaged cells.” researchers in seven countries. for cell therapy development.”
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In March, the Galway Neuroscience Centre held a public information exhibit in the Aula Maxima as part of Brain Awareness Week. The interactive event was aimed at educating young people in particular about how the brain and nervous system work. Over two days, researchers in the Centre were given the opportunity to share their knowledge of brain activity and disorders with a non-academic audience. In the picture, Aisling McGrath takes Rebecca Dubber of Tuairíní National School through the mirror task, in which you must draw a shape while viewing it in a mirror. The task tests people’s visual perception, hand- eye coordination and learning.
The Centre for Astronomy hosted an international gathering on the future of super-telescopes to coincide with the design of the €1 billion European Southern Observatory super-telescope. Discussions about the role Ireland could play in this ambitious project are taking place with the Government, but Professor Andy Shearer is in no doubt of its significance. He says, “As members, Irish scientists and Irish industry would be able to take part in, and bid for, some of the most technologically challenging projects in the world.” Pictured is a member of the University’s Astronomy Society enjoying the view through one of the Centre for Astronomy’s telescopes. The photo is courtesy of Dr Ray Butler who won Best Societies Photo in the recent Capture Your Campus photo competition.
Geologists from the School of Natural Sciences have discovered a large network of underground rivers off Galway Bay (pictured) and the Aran Islands. The rivers of fresh water, which stretch up to 30 miles long, run underneath the seabed and were formed by karstification, the slow process of water dissolving the limestone that underlies the region. The discovery was made following conversations with residents of Inis Meáin, who said their well of fresh water never ran out, and from fishermen who refer to freshwater risings along the south coast of Galway.
Read more on these stories by searching: nuigalway.ie/about-us/news-and-events/news-archive
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RESEARCH GATHERINGS Summer is a traditional time for conferences on campus. Here are some examples of our recent research gatherings of all shapes and sizes.
May saw the 150th anniversary of the coining interview with singer and harpist, Mary O’Hara, The School of Law hosted a Franco-Irish of the term ‘homo neanderthalensis’ by was organised as part of the Martin Reilly Lecture discussion on marriage equality in April, with Queen’s College Galway Professor of Geology, Series and hosted on campus in St Anthony’s. keynote speaker Erwann Binet, deputy of the William King. King was the first scientist ever French National Assembly. The event, which was to name a new species of human, and to mark The School of Law marked the end of the chaired by Dr Eoin Daly, provided an insight into the anniversary a special symposium on academic year with their Annual Distinguished the shared experience of the two countries in Neanderthal man was organised on campus. Lecture, delivered this year by Mr Justice Nial undertaking legislative and constitutional reform The event was attended by President Michael Fennelly of the Supreme Court. The theme of the in controversial areas of family law. D. Higgins, who is pictured above with his wife, lecture was ‘The National Judge and the European Sabina, and lecturer in Paleontology, Dr John Union’, and it attracted an audience of law students Open innovation fails because companies are not Murray, examining a skull from the University’s and graduates, including the Attorney General, prepared to open up. That’s according to Professor collection. The main keynote address was Máire Whelan SC. Wim Vanhaverbeke, Professor of Strategy and delivered by Professor Svante Pääbo, Director of Innovation in the University of Hasselt, Belgium, the Department of Evolutionary Genetics at the The all-Ireland final of the now annualDebating who held three master classes on innovation Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, who was the first Science Issues competition was held in the Royal organised by the Whitaker Institute. In a public person to sequence the DNA of Neanderthal man. College of Surgeons in March, co-ordinated by lecture on the topic, Professor Vanhaverbeke the REDDSTAR project at NUI Galway. The explained how firms that can harness outside ideas As part of the Sociological Association of competition invites secondary school children to to advance their own businesses are likely to thrive Ireland’s Postgraduate Conference a roundtable debate the cultural, societal and ethical implications in this new era of open innovation. discussion on the role of universities in the of advances in biomedical science, and judges at contemporary development of citizens took place this year’s competition included our own Dr Jill In May, the HRB Clinical Research Facility held in Galway recently, supported by the School of McMahon (Galway Neuroscience Centre) and a public information evening to highlight some of Political Science and Sociology, the UNESCO CEO of Orbsen Therapeutics, Brian Molloy. St the clinical research studies taking place there. Child and Family Research Centre, and the Joseph’s Secondary CBS in Fairview, Dublin, took Visitors were shown how the research may lead to Community Knowledge Initiative. first prize in the hotly contested event. significant medical breakthroughs and treatments. A number of representatives from across Clinical research frequently involves patients NUI Galway, including Dr Jennifer Dagg, Dr In April, an international conference on ageing and volunteers, so according to Professor Martin Su-Ming Khoo, Dr Brendan Smith and Lorraine and the life course was organised on campus by O’Donnell, Acting Director of the Facility, public McIlrath, contributed to the discussion on various the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology and the engagement is essential to the work they carry out. aspects of the University’s civic engagement. School of Political Science and Sociology. The International Conference on Cultural Gerontology June saw Medical Devices Week launched on In February, the Centre for Irish Studies and explored the different ways in which older people campus. The event was organised by staff in the the Comhrá Ceoil research network hosted the interpret their own life courses, and the contrasting Network of Excellence for Functional Biomaterials International Council for Traditional Music ways we age in different cultural environments. (NFB), and gave the public an opportunity to Ireland Conference, the first time it was held in Over three days, 200 papers were presented on the explore medical device research in unique ways. Galway. Over 40 speakers took part in the three-day theme by more than 250 delegates. Devices from local companies including Boston event, including NUI Galway researchers in Irish Scientific, Vornia and Aerogen were on display, as music and dance studies. In March, a special public well as artworks inspired by the devices by staff in the Biosciences Building and students of GMIT.
8 CONFERENCES OLLSCÉALA
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1. guest lecture on climate change Pictured at the School of Natural Sciences’ were 3 Dr Mike Gormally, Centre for Environmental Science; Professor John Sweeney, NUI Maynooth; Dr Micheline Sheehy Skeffington, Plant Ecology Research Unit; and Professor Vincent O’Flaherty, Head of School. In his talk, Professor Sweeney, who is Ireland’s leading expert in the field, warned of the increasingly powerful effect of coastal storms, resulting from incontrovertible and accelerating rises in sea levels.
2. Mike Feerick, CEO of online education company ALISON (pictured centre), presented a masterclass on disruptive innovation to over 70 MBA students in April. Also attending the event were (left to right) Dr Emer Mulligan and Dr Rachel Hilliard, J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics; Suzanne Ryan, Chair MBAAI Western Chapter; and Dr Alma McCarthy, MBA Programme Director.
3. Thug an tOllamh Ben Hudson, Ollamh le Stair agus Léann na Meánaoise in Penn State University, Léacht Chuimhneacháin Uí Bhriain i mbliana. In éineacht leis an Ollamh Hudson (ar chlé anseo), tá Máirín Uí Bhriain agus iar-Mheabhránaí na hOllscoile, an tOllamh Nollaig Mac Congáil. View our upcoming conferences at: www.conference.ie
Six Fulbright Scholarships Sharing a Passion for Science
The first Undergraduate Science Fair was held on campus in March in Áras na Mac Léinn. The Fair, which was funded through the EXPLORE initiative, encouraged staff, students and school Six of this year’s Fulbright Scholarships have been awarded to staff and students from NUI Galway. groups to explore the science behind everything The awardees will carry out research in universities in the United States. They are: (standing) Dr Emer from the brain to Breaking Bad. The event was Mulligan, Head of the School of Business and Economics, who will be based at Harvard’s Kennedy the brainchild of Science student Joanne Duffy School of Government; Professor Fidelma Dunne, School of Medicine, who will carry out research in (pictured here with her hands full), who wanted Columbia University in New York; (seated) Dr Gavin Collins, Microbiology, who will be based at the to share the wonder of science with others: University of California Berkeley; Ms Alena Yuryna Connolly, PhD student of Information Systems “I wanted to put on an event that would give Security, who will study in the University of California Berkeley; Ms Julanne Murphy, graduate of non-science students and members of the public the Professional Diploma in Education, who will be based in the Catholic University of America in and opportunity to be inspired by science too!” Washington DC; and Colm Mac Fhionnghaile, MA student of Modern Irish, who will teach in the Joanne was supported along the way by staff University of Connecticut. members Dr Louise Allcock and Dr Sarah Knight of the Ryan Institute.
9 OLLSCÉALA GLOBAL CONNECTIONS GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
NUI Galway and Mayo Clinic in €11m Partnership An Taoiseach Enda Kenny was present at the recent signing of an €11.7 million collaboration between the Mayo Clinic and Enterprise Ireland, which will see NUI Galway developing and commercialising a medical device with the famous Minnesota-based clinic. The device is for the treatment of acute pancreatitis, and a team led by Dr Mark Bruzzi aims to design a prototype for human clinical use. This is the first project in a partnership that will see the commercialisation of up to 20 new medical technologies in Ireland over the next five years with the aim of creating several high value medical technology spin-out companies. Hispano-Galway Gathering In April, over a hundred experts in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American topics gathered in Galway for a three-day conference of the Association of Hispanists of Great Britain and Ireland, the first time it was held in the city. The gathering was attended by Mexican Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Carlos García de Alba (pictured centre). Irish connections included a discussion of the influence of Samuel Beckett on contemporary theatre in Catalonia and a poster presentation on the archive of the old Irish Colleges in Spain. The conference was organised by the Discipline of Spanish, where some 400 students study Spanish to degree and diploma level. Cell EXPLORERS Goes Farmleigh Fiesta for International International Students Cell EXPLORERS was the only Irish science outreach representative at the Johanna Walsh and Louise Kelly (International Office), along with President National Student Travel Foundation’s Malta Science Expo, which took place Jim Browne and An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, attended a special event for in the capital Valletta in April. The initiative, which is run by the School of international students held in Farmleigh House in April. On the day, awards Natural Sciences, introduces school children to the wonders of DNA in new were presented to three Indian students (Swarna Raman, Ameya Jagtap and interactive ways. At the expo, over 400 Maltese children performed and Sravanthi Bandla) who were awarded a full Government of Ireland banana DNA extractions with the Cell EXPLORERS team. Expo organiser, Scholarship to study at NUI Galway, and two other international students Karl Agius, was particularly impressed with the team’s enthusiasm and (Lucas Reibnitz and Tarek Nigim) who had acted as student ambassadors for communication skills, saying: “They excited and motivated the kids to the the year. NUI Galway remains the most popular university for international wonders and realities of science and imbued in them the wish to know more.” students coming to Ireland. Celebrating the Martyn Tribe of Hungary Marina Wild (Arts and Theatre Office) represented the University at a special event in the Hungarian Embassy in Dublin to celebrate the work of Hungarian artist Ferenc Martyn, a descendant of the Martyn tribe of Galway. A painting by Ferenc Martyn, whose great- grandfather left Galway in the 1800s to fight in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, hangs in the James Hardiman Library. You can view it by searching the University’s online Art Database: www.nuigalway.ie/arts_office/art_database Marina, who runs art classes for staff on campus, is pictured (left) with NUI Galway graduate, June Favre, and H.E. Dr Tamás Magyarics, Hungarian Ambassador to Ireland.
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Seoladh an Reiviú Online Tips for Aspiring Accountants
Sheol an Meabhránaí, an tOllamh Pól Ó Dochartaigh, an dara heagrán den An EXPLORE-funded partnership between staff and students of Accounting iris phiarmheasúnaithe Léann Teanga: An Reiviú sa Taibhdhearc ag tús mhí and Finance has created a series of online tutorials for Leaving Cert students. na Bealtaine. In éineacht le Pól anseo tá beirt mhac léinn den chúrsa MA ‘Accounting Nuggets’ helps the students by giving them bite-sized chunks of sa Léann Teanga a chuir an iris in eagar, Siobhán Ní Chualáin (ball foirne the syllabus in interactive step-by-step guides. Pictured at the launch of the d’Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge) agus Bríd Ní Chualáin. Is féidir teacht tutorials were Accounting student, Patric Evason; Programme Director for the ar An Reiviú ar an suíomh gréasáin: leannteangaanreiviu.oegaillimh.ie Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) Mary Barrett; and Declan McGoldrick, fourth year student at Summerhill College, Sligo.
New Books | Leabhair Nua
Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Jan O’Sullivan TD, is pictured with the School of Law’s Dr Pádraic Kenna and President Jim Browne at the presentation of Dr Kenna’s new book Contemporary Housing Issues in a Globalized World. The book examines key contemporary issues in accessing housing in today’s globalised financial system.
Plant Epigenetics and Epigenomics: Methods and Protocols edited Biofuel Books: In the past year, researchers in the School of Natural Sciences by Professor Charles Spillane and Dr Peter McKeown (Botany and Plant and Ireland’s national Technology Centre for Biorefining and Bioenergy have Science) is a volume of articles published as part of the Humana Press/ been behind a remarkable output of six books in the field of biofuels. Dr Maria Springer Protocols ‘Methods in Molecular Biology’. It features contributions G Tuohy, Dr Vijai K Gupta and Dr Anthonia O’Donovan have authored and by authors from ten countries, including detailed descriptions of cutting-edge co-edited the following titles, which were officially presented to the Registrar, experimental techniques for use by plant biologists. Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, in May: Bioenergy Research: Advances and Applications; Biotechnology and Biology of Trichoderma; Applications Self-Guided Fieldtrip for the Galway Area by Professor Martin Feely and of Microbial Engineering; Applications of Microbial Genes in Enzyme Alina Wieczorek (Earth and Ocean Sciences) was published as part of NUI Technology; Biofuel Technologies: Recent Developments; and Laboratory Galway’s EXPLORE initiative and features a self-guided tour of the Galway Protocols in Fungal Biology: Current Methods in Fungal Biology Series. region to encourage people to explore the natural history of Galway city and its surrounds.
11 OLLSCÉALA IN OTHER NEWS
THE WAY WE WORK Further Education Policy Christmas closure Are you interested in taking part-time study to enhance your professional and Approaching the summer solstice, we are sure that Christmas is personal development? NUI Galway is committed to supporting and funding the last thing on your mind. But just in case you’re planning ahead, staff to study as part of the University’s FEP scheme (Further Education the University will close for Christmas holidays on Tuesday 23 Policy). To be considered under the FEP scheme for the academic year December 2014 and will re-open on Monday 5 January 2015. 2014/15, you should submit an application marked ‘FEP Application’ to the Organisation and Staff Development Office, by Friday June 20th 2014. For details on the FEP scheme policy and to download the application form, Support Services Excellence Awards please visit: www.nuigalway.ie/staff-development/fundingsupports/fep/ The President and the UMT have recently agreed to set up the President’s Awards for Support Services Excellence. This is an award scheme designed to recognise and celebrate the contribution of support staff Parental Leave across the University. The scheme is expected to come into operation Did you know that the qualifying child’s age limit for parents wishing to avail during the 2014/2015 academic year and complements existing schemes of Parental Leave has increased from 8 years old to 13 years old? For further for teaching and research staff. Under the scheme, it will be possible details on the scheme, please contact our Equality Manager, Aoife Cooke. to nominate individuals or teams for their contribution. A panel will look at evidence of excellence that supports each nomination, taking account of five criteria, namely: Innovation and Imagination, Teamwork, Maternity Leave Policy Customer Service, Flexibility, and Effectiveness. There will be an The University Maternity Leave Policy was updated in March annual awards ceremony and a financial contribution to support the to provide further information to staff. For details of the latest professional development of award winners. So start thinking about who policy, please visit the ‘Policies and Procedures’ section of the deserves your nomination, and look out for the call for applications. Human Resources website: http://www.nuigalway.ie/hr
In praise of… Our Grounds Team
As summer takes hold on campus, we can all agree that the University grounds are a pleasure to take in. From the new pedestrian entrance on University Road to the furthest playing field in Dangan, our gardens and grounds team have excelled this year in bringing colour, shape and life to our surroundings. Have you spotted the fruit beds beside Áras na Gaeilge and the Cairnes Building? There you’ll find strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries and rhubarb, and lots of busy bees. Look out for apple and pear trees near the Engineering Building too, on your way to the riverside walk to Dangan, an area receiving closer attention in recent years. Hats off to David Gavin who manages the service under Facilities Manager Dean Pearce, along with his team: Anthony Griffin, Laura O’Connor, William Jordan, Tony Richardson, John Greally, Martin Burke, Séamus Acton, Liam McCumiskey, with Diarmaid, Anthony and the Radharc team, whose work adds so much to our working environment.
Have you admired the work of one of our teams from a distance? Submit an article for the next Ollscéala. For more details, visit: www.nuigalway.ie/inpraiseof
Paddle Power Corrections
There were two errors in the Spring edition of Ollscéala. Page 13 referred to Professor Bob Lahue’s ‘Microbiology’ lab winning two Irish Laboratory Awards. In fact, Professor Lahue and his team are Biochemists and not Microbiologists. Meanwhile, an item on page 6 should have referred to Dr Pádraic Kenna, rather than McKenna.
Dr Patrick O’Leary (Chemistry) competed in the World Cup regatta in Canoe/Kayak sprint in Szeged Hungary in May. Patrick competed in the Paralympic event over 200m, finishing fifth overall. Later this summer, he will take part in the European Championships in Brandenburg and the World Championships in Moscow. For more staff news as it happens, visit: @nuigalway NUI Galway staff.intranet.nuigalway.ie
12 AWARDS OLLSCÉALA
€15,000 in his Pocket Molecular Medicine Medal
A start-up company based in NUI Galway’s incubation centre was chosen as REMEDI PhD student Éanna Connaughton was awarded the Molecular the best start-up from nearly a hundred international entrants at the recent Medicine Ireland Medal for his work at the recent MMI Education and The Next Web Conference in Amsterdam. Pocket Anatomy creates 3D virtual Training Annual Scientific Meeting. Pictured presenting the award to Éanna simulations of the human body to help in medical training and promoting are Professor Laurence Egan (Pharmacology and Therapeutics) and Dr Mark patient well-being. CEO Mark Campbell was in Amsterdam to present their Watson, Programme Manager with the Clinical and Translational Research innovative technology, which has been described as the Google Maps of the Scholars Programme. body, and to pick up the winning prize worth €15,000. Postgraduate Programme of the Year
For the second year running, the University has won the Postgraduate Course of the Year in Business at the national gradireland Awards, on this occasion for the MSc in Marketing Practice programme. Pictured receiving the award were (l-r): Gavin O’Brien, Commercial Manager gradireland; Ann Walsh, Programme Director, MSc in Marketing Practice; Dr Kieran Conboy, Dean of NUI Galway’s College of Business, Public Policy and Law; and Paul Martin, Head of HR with Lidl Ireland, who sponsored the award.
BBC #newsHACK II Prize Human Rights Award Disabilities. It is named after Professor Carla The Digital Humanities and Journalism group Two teams from the Irish Centre for Human Vlaskamp (University of Groningen), researcher at Insight beat teams from Sky News and the Rights faced each other in the final of an and campaigner for the rights of people with Financial Times to win the ‘Connecting the international humanitarian law competition profound disabilities. News’ category at this year’s #newsHACK organised by the Irish Red Cross in the Criminal event organised by the BBC. Led by Dr Bahareh Courts of Justice in March. The Corn Adomnáin Royal Academy of Medicine Ireland Award Heravi, the Insight team used their expertise finalists were: Dianne Keur, Andrea Wescott- A paper published by the PRINCE research team with extracting data from Twitter streams Lacoursiere, Luke Hamilton, Sinead Coakley, in the School of Nursing and Midwifery won the to find the news articles most relevant for Rick O’Connor, Nora Kennelly. The teams beat General Practice category at the recent Royal any given hashtag. They plan to finalise their off competition from other Irish universities Academy of Medicine in Ireland ‘Doctor Awards’. ‘Hash2News’ extension and make it freely throughout the day, with Rick, Luke and Andrea The winning paper examined the effectiveness available online to help Twitter users find ‘the the eventual winners. of an education programme for improving the news behind the noise’. health of people with Chronic Obstructive Volleyball Pulmonary Disease in primary care. The paper, Analysing Ryanair Two NUI Galway volleyball players have won which was co-authored by 12 researchers in the Five Masters in International Finance students Volleyball Association of Ireland All-Star University, can be read here: www.nuigalway.ie/ won the Chartered Financial Analysts Ireland Awards. Katerina Axaopoulou won an all-star in papersjune2014 2014 Research Challenge for their analysis of her Wing Hitter position, while Amanda Mallard Ryanair plc. The prestigious competition pits was awarded the best Defence Specialist in the Chemistry Medal business students from across the country 2013/2014 awards. Professor Peter Croot, Established Professor against each other to produce the most of Earth and Ocean Sciences, was awarded the professional analysis of a quoted Irish company. International Carla Vlaskamp Award Institution of Chemical Engineers ‘Hutchinson The winning team were Sam Ryan, Shane Congratulations to Magdi Birtha, a PhD Medal’ at a recent meeting in Cork. IChemE has O’Brien, Anthony Patrick Saoud, Oisín Kelly, student in the Centre for Disability Law and been awarding medals since 1928 to celebrate and Conor Hanniffy; who were mentored along Practice, who became the first ever recipient the outstanding contribution made by chemical the way by Cian Twomey, Lecturer in Financial of the international Carla Vlaskamp early engineers worldwide, and Professor Croot Economics, and John Stokes, from NAMA and career award. The award will enable Magdi received it for his work on a paper examining the Department of Finance. to present at the World Conference of the the potential for the ocean surface to be used to International Association for the Scientific increase the uptake of carbon dioxide. Read his Study of Intellectual and Developmental article here: www.nuigalway.ie/papersjune2014
13 OLLSCÉALA COMMUNITY AND CAMPUS
Sir William Rowan Highlighting Disability Hamilton, I presume across Campus
Dr Aisling McCluskey of the School of Mathematics admires the new Staff and students from the Centre for Disability Law and Policy hosted five bust of Irish mathematician and physicist, Sir William Rowan Hamilton, days of events on campus in April to mark Disability Awareness Week. The unveiled recently in Áras de Brún. Hamilton’s work on algebraic questions, theme of the EXPLORE-funded event was ‘Access All Areas’ and it aimed especially what he called ‘quaternions’, is still hugely influential today, with to combat stereotypes around disability. The week showcased a range of all researchers in Classical Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics familiar with creative projects, educational and employment initiatives, and research, Hamiltonian Dynamics and the Hamiltonian function. The bronze bust was all of which are helping people with disabilities to express themselves cast by renowned Irish sculptor John Coll and can be seen on the building’s and contribute more to the University and city. Pictured are organisers ground floor. and students of the LLM in International Disability Law and Policy, with President Browne and Yaz the guide dog. Did you wear a Green Ribbon?
Aifric Keogh from na Forbacha received the Tom Tuohy Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rowing from Tom’s daughter Deirdre Tuohy and President Jim Browne at the University’s annual Sports Awards.
Marchathon Human Resources, Student Services, the Disability Office and the Students’ Union joined forces in May to promote mental health awareness on campus Students were challenged to use shank’s mare, as the University launched its by wearing a green ribbon. The free ribbons were available in cafés across first Marchathon. Organised by Smarter Travel Campus, teams of students the University, and were aimed at getting people thinking and talking about committed to walking 30 minutes or more each day and to submit details mental health. For more information, contact Fiona Kennedy in HR who is online on their walking habits. The Marchathon is aimed at encouraging our ambassador for See Change, the voluntary organisation that coordinated students to use more environmentally-friendly forms of transport. the campaign nationally. €10k Enterprise Award Inspired by Malala Phd student of Psychology, Brian Slattery, won the top prize of €10,000 at this To mark International Women’s Day 2014, the University Women’s Network year’s Students’ Union Enterprise Awards. His winning project Student Talks is held a book and bake sale in aid of the ‘Malala Fund’. Named after Malala an online knowledge platform for students to communicate their ideas, connect Yousafzai, the inspirational Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban, the with other students and find out about courses and careers. Local entrepreneur fund aims to create a world where every girl can access education. The sale and Apprentice finalist, Joanne Sweeney-Burke, presented the awards on the raised over €850, with all money going towards this worthy cause. night and was hugely impressed with the students’ enterprising spirit. “The drive, determination and enthusiasm of the students is fantastic,” she said.
14 COMMUNITY AND CAMPUS OLLSCÉALA
Two More Awards for Societies ‘Performance Points’ for Excelling Students
The University has introduced two pioneering schemes to reward a limited number of students who have excelled in sports and the arts with extra CAO points. Welcoming the move, President Jim Browne says: “These schemes recognise and support the ambition and dedication of our prospective students.” Sports Fifteen elite athletes will be awarded 40 CAO Performance Points for undergraduate courses each year, in recognition of their skill, time and dedication in reaching the highest level of their chosen sport. On top of this, the students will receive similar benefits to those in the existing Elite Athlete Scholarship Scheme, including a Our student societies picked up two prizes at this year’s BICS Awards, adding to the University’s subsistence grant, performance supports, gym record haul at the national awards. The Astronomy Society won the very competitive Best New Society membership and medical support. category – you can see a photo from one of their events on page 7 of this magazine. Pictured here is the image that won the Best Photo award for the Rover Soc. In one posed picture, it shows the wide range of activities that its members get up to during the year. Creative Arts A limited number of students with exceptional achievements in selected disciplines of the A Campus Bursting with Life creative arts will be awarded 40 CAO towards their undergraduate courses. The scheme will focus on those areas where the University already has an acknowledged international standing, and includes: creative writing; digital arts and media; drama and theatre; film; and non-fiction writing.
Badminton Abú!
We don’t often hear of the important role minority sports clubs play in the life of the University – those smaller clubs and lesser- We always knew that the University was a haven for wildlife, but now the numbers prove it – our played sports that are so vital for boosting campus is the most biodiverse in Ireland! During the 24-hour ‘BioBlitz’ in May, 43 volunteers recorded participation in sport among our students. a total of 581 species on campus, including 333 plant and tree species, 55 birds and 75 insects. Some of Introducing the NUI Galway Badminton the more exciting finds were native orchids such as twayblade, an emperor moth, eels and a Nathusius’ Club, who recently won Badminton Ireland’s pipistrelle bat. The family-friendly event was spear-headed by Caitríona Carlin and Karen Dooley, and Grade G Interleague All Ireland Final in supported by their colleagues in the School of Natural Sciences, the Buildings Office, the College of Baldoyle, Co. Dublin. By all accounts, their Engineering and Informatics, and the Green Campus team. This photo shows a drinker moth caterpillar cliffhanger final against the Nomads of Bray discovered by one of the teams while exploring the grasslands in Dangan. will live long in the Club’s memory.
15 OLLSCÉALA APPOINTMENTS A A
Members of ‘UniTunes’ the University’s staff and student choir, celebrating their win in this year’s Choir Factor competition in the Radisson Blu hotel. The event saw AL seven workplace choirs competing for the title, including AL Galway University Hospital, Boston Scientific and Avaya. The choir includes staff from all corners of the campus, and is led by choirmaster and former SU President, Peter Mannion, who is seen here holding the (very heavy) winner’s sculpture. See the choir’s crowd-pleasing performances at: nuigalway.ie/choirfactor2014 É É
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Just some of the events to look out for on campus over the next three months. June, 11: Health Promotion Conference: The theme of June, 27: Honorary Conferring takes place on campus. this year’s conference is ‘Applying the Principles of Health This year’s conferees are: EU Commissioner Máire Promotion to Population Health Improvement’. Geoghegan-Quinn; former Chief of Staff of the Irish LLS Defence Forces, Lt Gen. Seán McCann; and businessman LLS June, 16-20: The International Disability Law Summer School and innovator, Finian O’Sullivan. (the largest in the world) takes place on campus. The theme of this year’s event is ‘Access to Justice and Political Participation’. July, 10: To mark 50 years of Biochemistry at the University, a special symposium will be held on campus, which will June, 19: ‘Remembering UCG’: An evening of food, fun and include presentations from past graduates based in Ireland and music organised by the Social Club kicks off at 5.30pm in the overseas. Staff Club. July, 25: Staff Summer BBQ will be held in The College Bar July 14-27: Galway International Arts Festival: The University from 5.30pm. Don’t miss out on a great evening of food and O is delighted to partner with the (newly named) Festival again fun in the sun (hopefully). O this year. Did you know that NUI Galway staff can avail of a 10% discount on tickets by presenting their Staff ID card at the Festival Box Office?
John Caulfield (Editor), Ollscéala, Marketing and Communications Office, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh
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